Traffic sign



Patented Aug. 11, 1925 UNITED STATEfi rarest orrice.

GEORGE A. SHOEIVJIAKER, OF SALUDA, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR 0E ONE-HALF T0 ELVIN S, IMUIRE, OF TIRE- NNA, VIRGINIA.

TRAFFIC SIGN.

Application filed April 28, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, GEORGE A. SHOEMAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saluda, in the county of Middlesex and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Traflic Sign, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signs and more particularly to direction indicating signs.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient device of this character which may be used at both railroad crossings, and street crossings or as a guide to tourists or for other purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be located at any desired point and which may be locked to prevent rotation thereof or be frictionally held so as to permit it to turn when struck by a passing vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a two in one fiat figure in the representation of a man supporting a staff having an indicia carrying plate mounted thereon.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a sign constructed in accordance with this invention shown in operative position the rear portion or base of the sign being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a detail transverse section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1..

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation showing a slightly different form of mounting and looking for the sign.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of one of the locking disks shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the other disks.

In the embodiment illustrated a supporting base is shown in the form of a block 1 which may be of any suitable material wood or concrete ordi ar ly which has n p n g Serial No. 709,583.

extending therethrough to receive a pipe 3. The pipe 3 extends through the block 1 and is inserted in the earth when the device is used out-of-doors or it may be secured in any suitable manner to the block when it is to be employed inside.

Another pipe 4 is telescopically engaged with the upper end of pipe 3 and projects some distanceabo've it being split as shown at 5 to receive the sign to be supported thereby and which may be riveted or otherwise secured thereto as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

The sign 10 is made of sheet metal or other suitable fiat material sufficiently rigid to resist strain to which it will be subjected and as here illustrated is constructed in the form of a tratfic oiiicer which is carried by a pipe 4.

An indicia carrying plate or direction indicator 12 is shown in the form of a banner located over the head of the oflicer and attached thereto by a brace 11 and has a pole or staff 13 engaged by the hand 14*. It is of course understood that this sign may be of any other desired form than that shown and that the data printed thereon may be of any desired character according to the use to which this sign is to be put. The oflicers hand 14 is here shown pointing in the direction to be followed but obviously any other pointer may be used for this purpose.

Pipe 4 fits snugly within the pipe 3 with suflicient friction to normally hold the sign 10 in adjusted position but should said sign be struck by a passing vehicle or otherwise the pipe 4 will turn in pipe 3 and thus avoid breakage of the device.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 means for locking said pipe 4 to the pipe 3 is shown. This means comprises two collars 6 and 7 the collar 6 being secured to the upper end of pipe 3 by brazing or otherwise-and has on its upper face radially extending ribs 8 designed to cooperate with correspondingly spaced grooves 9 formed in the lower face of collar 7 which is fixedly mounted on pipe 4. The collar 7 is secured to pipe 4 at a point above its lower end so that when said end is inserted in pipe 3 the collar 7 will engage the collar 6 and be locked thereto.

' As above stated the sign 10 may be of any desired configuration, it being preferably the s me on both sides although n t n ar ly so. The gist of the invention resides in making a two in one fiat figure from a single piece of metal preferably struck out of sheet metal although it may be cast and which is in the form of a man carrying a stafl with an indicia carrying plate on the stall and connected with the figure and which may be usedfor various purposes. The device being preferably made of sheet metal and painted may be very cheaply constructed and by providing the base 1 and equipping it wit telescopically engaged pipes it may be supportedat any desired place and quickly set up and taken down at will. 1

I claim 1. A two in one flat figure in the representation of a man with an upwardly extending stafi supporting an indicia carrying plate with a connection between said plate and figure, all of said parts being made from a single piece of metal with the opposed faces painted or otherwise decorated according to the purpose for which the figure is to be used, and means for supporting said figure in upright position.

2. A two in one flat figure in the representation of a man with an upwardly extending stafi supporting an indicia carrying late with a connection between said plate an figure, all of said parts being struck out of a single piece of sheet metal, and means for supporting said figure in upright position.

3. A figure having attention attracting means carried thereby, a supportin pipe adapted to be fixed in a supporting ase, a

pipe carried by said figure, and collars carried by said pipes having interenga ing means for locking the pipes in adjuste position relatively to'each other. I In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GERGE A. SHOEMAKER. Witnesses LEWIS Jonas, SAMUEL E. RICHARDSON. 

